Ocean Grove boardwalk. July, 2008. Paul Goldfinger photo
Saturday, June 1, 2013. 12:15 p.m. Blogfinger received word shortly after noon today from the OGCMA about the denial.
Dr. Dale Whilden, President of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association said, in an email to BF, “We just received official and very disappointing word this morning from FEMA denying our appeal. The Asbury Park Press learned of this prior to our being contacted by either FEMA or elected officials and ran the article you may have seen in the paper today.” (see below for APP link)
Camp Meeting Association Issues Press Release:
Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, “Deeply Disappointed” in FEMA Denial,
Vows to Continue Seeking Funding for Recovery Efforts
(Saturday June 1, 2013) The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association (OGCMA) has learned from elected officials that OGCMA’s appeal for boardwalk/beach repairs has been rejected by FEMA, and has vowed to continue seeking funding for recovery efforts.
“We continue to remain committed to rebuilding our boardwalk and beachfront, and anticipate, that at the end of the process, funding will be obtained, based on the services we provide and the urgent needs of our community,” said OGCMA Interim COO Ralph Del Campo.
Because OGCMA is a non-profit organization, FEMA funding regulations differ from those for municipalities. The Camp Meeting has argued that it provides the same municipal services on the beachfront that every other town does: life-saving emergency benefits including lifeguards; complete public beach access; and a public thoroughfare that supports emergency services and connects to other communities.
Under FEMA guidelines, municipalities can be reimbursed for repairs to recreational facilities, but non-profit organizations cannot. However, a secondary appeal as permitted by FEMA is being evaluated by OGCMA as well as elected officials.
OGCMA continues to receive support from all local, state and federal officials, including Neptune Committeeman Randy Bishop, Neptune Township Mayor Eric Houghtaling, NJ State Senator Jennifer Beck, US Senator Robert Menendez, US Congressman Chris Smith, and Governor Chris Christie. On Tuesday, May 28, the Governor visited Ocean Grove and reiterated his support.
“We are deeply disappointed in FEMA’s rejection of our appeal,” said OGCMA President Dr. Dale C. Whilden. “Throughout this lengthy and frustrating appeal process, hundreds of individual volunteers, community groups, religious organizations, businesses and other supporters stepped forward to enable OGCMA to open its beachfront on Memorial Day weekend. We are incredibly grateful to all of our supporters. Through our TOGETHER Campaign as well as all other available means, we will continue our recovery efforts and welcome families and visitors to our shorefront this summer, as we have for over 140 years.”
Editor’s Note: In the APP article, you will find quotes by State Senator Beck and by Neptune Councilwoman Mary Beth Jahn. Mention was made of a possible second appeal. It should also be noted that the CMA is prepared to seek other sources of financial help and that the Trustees of the CMA have already given or pledged over $600,000, but much more money will be needed.
Asbury Park Press link: Asbury Park Press article about the FEMA appeal denial
Special Community Leaders meeting announced for Tuesday, June 4 at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Room. Those invited will receive emails about this event.
—Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
Abbott – Although I have always been fairly paranoid, a financially conservative liberal, and a socially responsible Christian, I am not at all naïve enough to accept your comment suggesting that the White House directed FEMA to deny the OGCMA appeal. In my opinion the politically smart move (how to get more votes) would be to approve paying for OG’s boardwalk. It would get my vote!
As to the supposed IRS scandal, I am not trusting enough to accept the statement of an individual Congressman over that of the official investigation by professionals. ken.
My understanding is that my 30X60 lot was originally combination of two separate 15X60 lots which had separate lot numbers with $5.25 rent each, that resulted in $10.50 rent.
Frank S. asked if OGCMA could add a special assessment of $250-500 on each homeowner to raise the funds. I’m not a lawyer, but I’ve spent quite a bit of time trying to read my leasehold document from the Camp Meeting to understand what our agreement entails. The handwriting and legalese are so difficult to parse. As far as I can understand, the leasehold limits our annual rent to 7% of the purchase price of the lot, which was $75 back in 1873. That would be $5.25. There’s no authority in the leasehold for special assessments or taxes.
I suppose Neptune could pass an ordinance for a special assessment and then donate the collected funds to the CMA to rebuild the boardwalk. But I also wonder if that would be challenged in court as a violation of the establishment of religion clause of the US Constitution. Perhaps Neptune would win that challenge — after all, there are numerous examples of governments providing subsidies or grants to religious organizations to support a non-religious function of the church — a soup kitchen, a school, or a homeless shelter, for example.
Interesting aside: my ground rent is actually $10.50 — I don’t know when or why it doubled from $5.25. Perhaps it was doubled when the Camp Meeting agreed to ignore the clause in the leasehold that permitted the lot to be used only from May 15 to October 13. Or possibly when it agreed to ignore the clause that prohibited use of the premises for a ” Boarding House or any Mercantile or mechanical trade or purpose”. I sure wish I had a written statement from the CMA that allows me to use the house in winter!!
You don’t have to look any further than the IRS scandel to understand the political motivations. No one should be naive and think that FEMA is not a VERY political organization directed by the White House. Face it, we are not liberal enough and we are too Christian.
State of New Jersey should step up or there should be an earmark.
Politics is disgusting.
I do hope they file the second appeal. According to the FEMA website there are two levels…. ” There are two levels of appeal. The first level appeal is to the Regional Director. The second level appeal is to the Assistant Director at FEMA Headquarters. “
Doubting Thomas, I share your anger about this decision. I have lived in Ocean Grove for 12 years, and my husband and I pay property taxes to Neptune and federal taxes too of course.
Why should Ocean Grove residents go without a boardwalk? It is also odd to me that the CMA still owns the boardwalk, but we use Neptune for police, public works, and schools. In addition, the Neptune mayor is our mayor too.
Maybe Neptune can help OG with their boardwalk, since we pay so much in taxes to them.
The FEMA issue isn’t going away. Federal and state politicians need to continue to lobby FEMA to amend its rules and regulations, and that could take years. What else is not going away is the 2013 hurricane and nor’easter season which is fast approaching.
It’s time for the CMA, the 3,000 or so Grove residents and business owners to come together to formulate and implement a long-term funded disaster plan. Everything else is just band aids.
This will send a powerful message especially to the press that continues to portray Ocean Grove in a negative light.
Disappointed, I hear what your saying and agree with your thoughts. I wonder if U.S. Legislators in DC could bring any pressure to FEMA———or if this has been already tried to no avail… If this country can give 26 million dollars to foreign countries, part of which went to rebuilding mosques———–then why can’t they help with Ocean Grove?
I plan on writing to my US legislators and asking that question…
Gail: Right after Sandy hit, many people in town and from far and wide came to Ocean Grove to help with the cleanup of the boardwalk /beachfront. Such help could be obtained again, but most of what needs to be done now requires expensive expert workers. As for the Amish, most of them are trained professional woodworkers.
It’s great that you are willing to carry a jar around town, but that’s been tried already with the OG town-wide yard sale where special collection jars were offered to 45 participants by the TOGETHER group, but only a handful took part. Individual contributions are definitely something that Grovers can do to help.
Ocean Grovers have already been trying to raise funds in their own way. One such effort was the Blogfinger Film Festival, and considering that there are over 3,000 year round citizens in the Grove and the tickets were only $10.00, only about 100 people showed up.
Another effort is being made to help. That is the “Raise the Roof” concert on June 15 in the Great Auditorium. Ticket sales need a boost.
So, citizens are trying, but these efforts will not bring in $2,000,000. The CMA must continue its search for public/private funds from outside the town.
I really love all the (above) comments. FEMA had no problem supporting Ocean Grove back in 1992 when the boardwalk/pier took a hit from another storm. Ocean Grove was the same then as it is now———what’s the problem now???
I will send a check in to the CMA, and I can already say, I wish it could be more than it is going to be.
Also IF the CMA would be willing to let “us” help in another way–I am sure the town could bring out enough people to work on the boardwalk. There are probably many of us who can lift boards and nail them. We all know how the Amish get together and re-build——–we can do that too…..
It maybe a liability though for the CMA–not sure how that works….
I would be willing to walk up and down Main Ave. with a “jar” to get donations for the CMA————because I believe in them and what they stand for… Ocean Grove has been my home for over 50 years, and my grandparents before that.
The federal government. said “NO”; let the people who love this town say “YES”—one way or the other Ocean Grove will rebuild with or without “them”…
Nicely said beezee!!!!!!!!’
Nothing at all surprising here. The Federal government takes and takes and takes and “gives” back according to their ever-changing rules as their mood suits them. So stop begging. Forget about any help from them today, tomorrow, and always.
A project like this is probably 75% labor. Let the CMA stop looking in vain outside for help, pay for the materials and call instead for every man or woman capable of lugging a board or swinging a hammer to step up, and this thing would be DONE to OUR satisfaction before the Summer is out. And next April 15th, remember this treatment(and deduct for it) before you write a check for what’s “owed”. I’d be the first to sign up………..
The Federal Government has said, through its actions, that boardwalks are essential along the Jersey shore. If they didn’t think so, then they should not have spent a fortune in FEMA money rebuilding them for almost all the towns that lost their boardwalks during Sandy. But since they have put their money where their opinion is, then they should do it for Ocean Grove also.
“The Camp Meeting has argued that it provides the same municipal services on the beachfront that every other town does: life-saving emergency benefits including lifeguards; complete public beach access; and a public thoroughfare that supports emergency services and connects to other communities.”
While this is true, the boardwalk does not provide or impact these services, it is not needed for these services to exist. there are many beaches along the east coast that do not have boardwalks, yet have lifeguards and emergency services perform rescues all the time. How do communities like Norfolk Virginia, where individuals own the beach effect rescues? They dont have boardwalks in front of their houses. What about Sea Bright, Monmouth Beach or Sandy Hook? They all have lifeguards and emergency services without a boardwalk.I just think this is a poor argument
When E.H. Stokes decided to improve upon the existing structure in 1894 and build the current GA, he embarked upon on of the most ambitious fund drives of the time. Now we face a similar challenge as Mr. Stokes did a century ago when he called upon Methodists and friends far and wide, bringing in famous ministers from across the country to raise money and finance the GA. Ocean Grove has done this before, we can do it again
Someone should file a discrimination suit on behalf of those Ocean Grovers who pay Federal taxes. Wasn’t it our taxpayer money that paid for damaged boardwalks on the Jersey coast except for Ocean Grove? What about us? Shouldn’t we also enjoy the advantages of a boardwalk in a part of this country where boardwalks are routinely accepted as necessary for safety and the pursuit of happiness?
If FEMA thought it was essential for other US citizens to have their boardwalks rebuilt, then why are they discriminating against us? It shouldn’t matter who owns the boardwalk in Ocean Grove. We taxpayers need the same relief as other Jersey Shore citizens. We should not be punished by the Federal government over a technicality which is not our fault.
And while we are at, aren’t we Grovers paying taxes to Neptune Township? How much of taxpayer money has been spent by Neptune Township and how much will be spent on the continued restoration of Shark River Hills, including the marina and related infrastructure?
Neptune: tell us how all that is being financed and why you are not helping with the boardwalk in the Grove. We pay millions of dollars in property taxes to you. Are you discriminating against us also?
Very bad news. As I understand it OG needs aprox. 1.5 to 2 million to rebuild. Already pledged is aprox. $600,000 . Not sure that benefit concert, t-shirts, etc. will raise more then maybe another $100,000 if that. So 1 to 1.5 million is needed. Could OGCMA place a special assesment of $250 to $500 on its aprox. 3000 homeowners/tenants ?? Any lawyers out there care to comment ?
I wonder if this is the result of a civil ceremony that did not take place in the Boardwalk Pavilion.